Add BrightSurf on Google Email

New '4-D' lung cancer model could quicken discoveries

Researchers at Houston Methodist have developed a new, ex vivo lung cancer model that mimics the process of tumor progression. The '4-D' model allows for the study of cancer metastasis, including the growth of primary tumors and formation of circulating tumor cells, providing insights into tumor progression and potential new therapies.

Device extracts rare tumor cells using sound

Researchers developed a microfluidic chip that uses sound waves to separate circulating tumor cells from white blood cells, achieving a throughput rate up to 20 times faster than prior attempts. The device preserves the integrity of separated CTCs and offers a label-free approach without chemically altering the cells.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 6, 2015

How cancer turns good cells to the dark side

A new study by Rice University researchers shows how cancer cells use 'jagged' proteins to hijack cell-signaling process and promote metastasis. The mechanism plays a crucial role in embryonic development and wound healing.

SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 26, 2015

Stopping cancer in its tracks

A team led by Dr. Andrew Craig is developing inhibitory antibodies targeting key signals that cancer cells require for metastasis. The goal is to identify lead antibodies and test their potency in pre-clinical models to develop new immunotherapies for clinical trials.

Migration negation

Researchers identified a cellular culprit in metastasis, finding that an overabundance of Frizzled-2 and its activator Wnt5 triggers EMT in cancer cells. This discovery informs the design of new treatments to prevent or delay metastasis.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalCell·DateNov 6, 2014

Decoding the emergence of metastatic cancer stem cells

Cancer cells use genetic circuits as a three-way switch to form both cancer stem cells and circulating tumor cells, leading to metastasis. Researchers found significant correspondence between the operation of these two switches, suggesting a mechanism that would confer 'stemness' on hybrid cancer cells.

SourceRice University·JournalInterface·DateOct 31, 2014